Is American monitoring of Suspected Terrorists acceptable or unacceptable?

Question wording: According to news reports, the American government has been monitoring communications, such as emails and phone calls, in the U.S. and many other countries. In your opinion, is it acceptable or unacceptable for the American government to monitor communications from individuals suspected of terrorist activities?

Is American monitoring of American Citizens acceptable or unacceptable?

Question wording: According to news reports, the American government has been monitoring communications, such as emails and phone calls, in the U.S. and many other countries. In your opinion, is it acceptable or unacceptable for the American government to monitor communications from American citizens?

Is American monitoring of Your Country’s Citizens acceptable or unacceptable?

Question wording: According to news reports, the American government has been monitoring communications, such as emails and phone calls, in the U.S. and many other countries. In your opinion, is it acceptable or unacceptable for the American government to monitor communications from (survey nationality) citizens?

Is American monitoring of Your Country’s Leaders acceptable or unacceptable?

Question wording: According to news reports, the American government has been monitoring communications, such as emails and phone calls, in the U.S. and many other countries. In your opinion, is it acceptable or unacceptable for the American government to monitor communications from (survey nationality) leaders?

Is American monitoring of ____________ acceptable or unacceptable?

Question wording: According to news reports, the American government has been monitoring communications, such as emails and phone calls, in the U.S. and many other countries. In your opinion, is it acceptable or unacceptable for the American government to monitor communications from ____________?

The Pew Research Center’s 2014 Global attitudes survey asked 48,643 respondents in 44 countries what they thought about the American government monitoring communications, such as emails and phone calls, in the U.S. and other countries. Specifically, global publics were asked whether the U.S. government’s alleged monitoring of communications from individuals suspected of terrorist activities, American citizens, citizens of the survey countries or the leaders of the survey countries is acceptable or unacceptable.

Median percentages across 43 countries saying it is acceptable or unacceptable for the U.S. government to monitor the communications of ____

Explore the individual country responses for all these values on the following pages. You can sort by country, region or response category. Click on a country name to display how people in that nation view U.S. electronic surveillance.

Views on U.S. spying of ...

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* U.S. question wording

According to news reports, the American government has been monitoring communications, such as emails and phone calls, in the U.S. and many other countries. In your opinion, is it acceptable or unacceptable for the American government to monitor communications from citizens of other countries?

* U.S. question wording

According to news reports, the American government has been monitoring communications, such as emails and phone calls, in the U.S. and many other countries. In your opinion, is it acceptable or unacceptable for the American government to monitor communications from leaders of other countries?

About Pew Research Center Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping America and the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts.